John Chilton - Timber Gridshells: Architecture, Structure and Craft

THROUGHOUT history, people have constructed simple timber lattice shelters, such as the tepee or yurt, covered with animal skins, leaves, grasses and woven fabrics. Over the last fifty years, more sophisticated webs of wood have emerged, with timber gridshells in particular becoming a structurally expressive form of architecture. Recent developments in digital design, 3-D modelling software and timber fabrication technologies, as well as trends towards low-carbon construction, have further reinforced architects interest in the use of lightweight timber grids and lattice structures.

This timely book charts the origin and evolution of the timber gridshell and its relation to timber lattice architecture. Drawing on a range of international case studies, the authors trace the effect that advances in technology have had on design and construction in this field, providing a clear understanding of the structure, morphology, design process and construction technology, and examining both the application and constraints of timber gridshells in architectural design.

Timber Gridshellsis a highly illustrated, up-to-date resource that provides detailed answers and inspires new ideas. As such, it is essential reading for students of architecture as well as professional architects.

JOHN CHILTONis Professor of Architecture and Tectonics at the University of Nottingham, UK. With a special interest in the history, design and construction of innovative and non-conventional structures, he is an active member of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) and chaired their Working Group 12 Spatial Timber Structures from 1998 to 2015. He is the author of Space Grid Structuresand Heinz Isler: The engineers contribution to contemporary architecture, a book on the work of the Swiss reinforced concrete shell-builder Heinz Isler.

GABRIEL TANGis an architect and Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Sheffield Hallam University, UK. He trained at the Bartlett, University College London, UK, and worked in the offices of Foster + Partners, London. Currently completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh, UK, on the novel use of deployable gridshells as formwork for concrete shell construction, his research interests lie in technology culture, material tectonics and the innovation synergies between architecture, structure and construction processes.

Timber Gridshells: Architecture, structure and craft, a well-written and illustrated book, takes readers on an informative journey through the origin, evolution and application of timber gridshells alongside the development of technology. The book will inspire creativity in architects and engineers alike.

Abdy Kermani, Director of Centre for Timber Engineering, Edinburgh Napier University, UK

Anyone interested in the technology of structures and architecture will enjoy Timber Gridshells. Written with clarity and elegance, readers will find delight in the architecture presented through the series of beautifully illustrated and carefully designed case studies of this book.

Remo Pedeschi, Professor of Architectural Technology, University of Edinburgh, UK

ARCHITECTURE, STRUCTURE AND CRAFT

JOHN CHILTON
AND GABRIEL TANG

First published 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2017 John Chilton and Gabriel Tang

The right of John Chilton and Gabriel Tang to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Chilton, John (John C.), author.